fLeslier has 13 post(s)

In “The Accumulation of Labor and the Degradation of Women”, Federici explores various events in which women are undervalued due to the economic interests of a nation. During the end of the middle ages and feudalism various manifestations were made to solve the steady state of economy. New strategies were developed such as privatization of land, wage competition and changes in prices to generate income. However, women struggled to have a position among the new developing system of capitalism. Federici explains that women were paid half of the wage of men. The limited amount of money they received was not enough for them to sustain their children or even themselves since prices were also rising. Consequently, they started to face starvation while the nation was more interested in importing and exporting goods to gain more profit. In addition, population began to decline but the labor force needed population to grow instead to acquire wealth. Federici argues that women were used as instruments for reproduction and on top of that they became criminals if they were to terminate their pregnancies by any cause. These events demonstrates the “degradation of women” because women were manipulated, invisible and worthless in the expansion of capitalism. Women did not have any control over their bodies or behavior. Women were meant to do domestic labor and help their husbands but their labor was underestimated because it was not productive for the nation. Regardless of their opposition towards the system overtime they continued to experience enslavement but just in different forms. Federici describe how a similar treatment towards women was repeated during the slave-trade period in relation to procreation to increase work force but she also described the wide distinction between the two. But this comparison showed how previous events marked the displacement of women among a society. These issues faced by women are still present nowadays in many places because there is a division between gender.

Davis is trying to take the reader step by step through the history of women during the 19th century while expanding her arguments on race, class and gender. Around the world there are millions of females with different backgrounds but is of great importance for Davis to begin with the role of black women during slavery. Her purpose is to show how their treatment was mostly influenced by profit. Back then a society focus on negotiations between owners to sell and manipulate their slaves in order to gain power a group of people as they also gained profit. However, there started to be a turning point when women realized their value and manifested opposition to obtain freedom. In chapter three, Davis describes and explains the “embryonic” actions of women who were dedicated to fight for independence from men and for their roles in a society with equality. In many different places there were campaigns such as the Anti-slavery Convention and the Seneca Falls Declaration in which women were able to be at least represented by other men or they by themselves had the chance to fight inequality. During the uprising of these events, one historical figure that grabbed my attention was Frederick Douglass. He was  a man who defended the rights of women. Davis mentions how his convincement of the right to vote came from a women. What Davis is trying to tell us by mentioning him is to portray determination, unity and hope for a change in the perspective others had about women having the right to vote. She explains how he was the only one that accepted to fight and had the will to persevere even when he was rejected by the press and other people. He represented a form of freedom to express their values in a family, in a job and in a society. Women wanted to be equally treated and not be a minority. One of the characteristic he had was loyalty even when there was a lot of opposition between males and females. Davis demonstrates that there is possibility to come to an agreement and be open minded to discuss the issues one is experiencing. Overall, each reference she uses clarify and proved the possibility to reach freedom and equality.

My name is Leslier Uribe. I am a transfer student from LaGuardia Community College. This is my first semester at Hunter College where I major in Biology. I am from Colombia and I have been living in the U.S for seven years. Coming from a different country and culture gender seem to play an important role because the behavior of people changes depending on their own ideas about gender. Since I am a woman I am interested to learn the various perspectives of the role of women in a society.